PennDOT's Conventional Approach

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There is little dispute that something must be done to improve safety and congestion along Route 41. The question is how.

In the mid-late 1990’s, PennDOT unveiled plans for a new, four-lane highway on the southern half of Route 41 - from the Delaware line to Route 926 - at a cost of more than $25,000,000 per mile. This project would have cut a swath of steel and concrete through the last remaining expanse of contiguous prime farmland in the Delaware Valley. Much of the farmland that would need to be condemned by PennDOT is protected by public and private conservation easements that have been painstakingly assembled over many years by hundreds of private individuals and the County's Agricultural Land Preservation Board. In addition, other unprotected farmland would also be in jeopardy from direct right-of-way takings or from induced development accelerated by the increased road capacity. To build this "preferred alternative," the project would certainly directly and indirectly over the long haul impact watershed wetlands along the corridor, including the White Clay Creek, classified as both an exceptional value trout stream and a federally-protected Wild and Scenic River. The White Clay Creek, which supplies drinking water to the City of Newark, is already stressed by growing non-point source pollution in the area.

Route 1 and 41 interchange conventional approach overlay (click for enlargement)

Smart Mobility roundabout concept at Route 1 interchange (click for enlargement)

More on the Concerns of a Conventional Approach: